The Spring Classics

He is Australian, so that wouldn't be a surprise

@Surreyrider Yawn, you know this site doesn't specifically cater for you

I got a gravel bike last year for commuting, bike backing and for doing a bit of off road cycling that didn't require a mountain bike. I love it, it really is a jack of all trades. 45c tyres deliver a lot of comfort, the position is really nice for long cycles. I think this article covers gravel riding quite nicely

@slc While I think we can all agree that the state of roads are crap in general, the A4 or A431 (through Kelston) between Bath and Bristol is much smoother. Or at least it’s possible to find smooth sections provided you’re not riding in the gutter at all times. I often ride my 28mm race bike on these roads, but no chance I’d take it on the cycle path. I’d argue that’s it’s more than a ‘few’ roots, and there are also a lot of sections with hidden pot holes. I almost destroyed my front wheel falling into one just this Thursday evening gone! There are certain sections that are definitely adequate, but the Bath end (beyond Bitton) is a bit of a disgrace.

@HoarseMann thanks for the feedback on how it works.

@Sniffer I have a nearly 10yr old Mason Definition that's done plenty of miles including LEJOG, and a Strael 3.0 that I haven't used nearly enough yet. Quite similar bikes, the few miles I've done on the Strael suggest a bit more compliance, but the Mason is still a comfy place to be. Still never had the carbon race bike to compare that end of the spectrum and TBH I'm probably past it now.

As regards the crazed Bath cycle lane protesting nutters: I'm at a fantastic Lancashire Wildlife Trust Supporters Day and there was a talk from a rewilding expert from Arkaty farm near Stirling. They were pioneers of reintroducing red kites and beavers and (rather like the Bath nutters) the tactics of the stupid, stupid objectors have to be heard to be believed. Fake farmers turning up at meetings lying about the made up havoc caused in their fake areas by imaginary reintroductions. Just like the fake concern for children, the disabled, trees etc. etc. fabricated by people who are really only concerned about convenient car parking, and to hell with everything and everybody else

@Global Nomad assuming it's pairing you have a profile (or multiple) within which you can add multiple light modes which you can then customise eg solid/flash 0 -100% brightness. You may not have added a mode to customise? I have 10%, 40%, 60% for long run times but you can have more or less depending how many you want to have to scroll through in use.

Gustav had a falling out with Intend? He used to put their forks on all his wild builds, but the one time the upside-down fork would make perfect aesthetic sense, reflecting the upside down tuning machine layout, its back to RockShox? Sponsor obligations perhaps?

@ChasP Price i have a magicshine but I find the app unusable to change the behaviour of the light - keep wondering if i'm missing a step